The Atlanta Police Foundation, corporations, and local officials are trying to destroy hundreds of acres of the Weelaunee Forest to build the largest police training compound in the United States. Known as Cop City, the compound would train cops in hyper-militarized police tactics on the use of firearms, tear gas, helicopters, and explosive devices. Police from all over the country will train there.

The Weelaunee Forest covers almost 48% of Atlanta. It plays a key role in mitigating climate change-driven heat waves and floods in the surrounding majority-Black communities. The government and corporations are perpetuating aggressive policing and imprisonment rather than investing in solutions that care for people, addressing root causes. A nearly two-year encampment to protect the forest ended on January 18 with the murder of forest defender Tortuguita by police and arrest of 19 others on charges of domestic terrorism.

NYC activists committed to diverse causes ranging from prison abolition to gender justice to climate justice are coming together for a National Day of Action to demand justice for the police murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, #StopCopCity Forest Defender Tortuguita, and all others lost and impacted by police violence and terror.

We will meet in front of St Patrick's Cathedral (5th Ave and East 50th Street) and then march to one of our favorite fossil fuel financiers who is also backing Cop City.